A Vinted Wake-Up Call

A mindful way to use Vinted, in a tap-to-buy world

I’ve been rocking a capsule wardrobe since 2018.

Not because it was the new buzz word, but because I find comfort in simplicity. Fewer choices, less clutter, more space.

Plus, I’d rather stick a fork in my eye than go shopping. I hate it. It overwhelms me. It takes so long. CBA to try things on. And the fast fashion industry makes me wanna vom.

And then I found Vinted

… a second hand clothing treasure trove that lets you shop from a million stores, while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil.

At first, it felt like a win for the planet, and it absolutely can be. But I noticed a not-so-sustainable pattern in my Vinted use.

I was reselling the same clothes I’d bought.

• Not because I can’t be seen wearing the same thing twice.

• Not because it was my next entrepreneurial move.

• …but because I was having more than my share of Vinted #FAILS.

My slow, sustainable capsule wardrobe had become responsible for shipping clothing here, there and everywhere. 🤦‍♀️

It was time to nip that in the bud. So, I created a more mindful way to use Vinted - the Dua Lipa way…

I got new rules I count ‘em..

1) Be clear on what you’re looking for

My wardrobe Pinterest board helps me with this, along with just 4 colours I like to wear (because simplicity).

I have a note on my phone with a list of the clothes I need (read: want) and colours I want them in. This stops me from impulse buying from my ‘for you’ feed.

2) Natural materials ONLY

This is about quality over quantity.

I like to buy clothes that are going to last, are comfortable AND look great even after multiple washes.

The best way to achieve that is to buy clothes made from natural materials - think cotton, linen, wool, leather.

This also means my clothes are >biodegradable< too, once I’ve worn them to death.

On Vinted you can filter by material. You can also take a look at the photos - often sellers will include a photo of the label, showing the materials.

Hot tip… If something is from M&S, H&M, Zara etc - you can pretty much guarantee there will be acrylic or poly[something] in there. Spoiler alert: these are plastics, and not only will they take millennia to break down, they’re also not breathable or durable.

3) Don’t cave to lack mindset

I’ve learned to favourite things and send offers while I take a ‘cooling off period’ to sense check if I really *do* need that thing.

If something sells while I’m mulling it over, I’ve learned to trust it wasn’t meant to be.

A while ago there was a beautiful 100% cotton dress that popped up in my Vinted feed. I wanted it.. but mulled it over and it sold.

The next week I found the exact same dress for £20 less and bought it. And that was a Vinted win by the way.